'Dying on its feet': Footfall in Luton town centre dropped by 9% even BEFORE coronavirus crisis

The number of visitors has dropped by nine per cent, even before the recent coronavirus crisis, a meeting heard.

The extent of the problem emerged at a meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny board, which was examining the quarter three performance report for 2019/20.

Liberal Democrat Stopsley councillor David Wynn said: “I would be concerned as a local resident that footfall in the town is going down.

“Do we have any views why it’s dropping so badly?”

Council officer Israr Siddique replied: “We have to look at the town centre as a whole. There are a number of shops which have closed recently.

“That will have an impact. There are also other shopping centres around which offer free parking.

“Customers could potentially be going there.”

Liberal Democrat Barnfield councillor David Franks said: “I wouldn’t mind betting if you look at the equivalent figures for Hitchin and Harpenden they’re going up because they have still got Marks and Spencer.”

Liberal Democrat Wigmore councillor Peter Chapman said: “We should make a further recommendation that we get more about this because it’s not gradually going down.

“It’s just plummeting now. That’s an area we should be looking at and putting pressure on.

“It’s dying on its feet. It’s a disgrace when you walk through there now. This is drastic. it isn’t a bit of a drop.

“I mean nine per cent down … if you get another nine per cent you’re really talking collapse mode, aren’t you?”

Councillor Franks said: “We need a detailed report with some attempt at explaining why and what can be done about it.”

Councillors agreed to this ahead of moving into the local authority’s scrutiny crime and disorder committee where the issue resurfaced.

The council’s corporate director place and infrastructure Laura Church said: “We know that the town centre needs to be a priority and focus.

“We are putting resources in, such as the neighbourhood enforcement team.

“My responsibility is to get a bit more coordination between different things we’ve got going on in the town centre.

“So I have set up a new strategic board to bring together all the operational parts of the council and wider partnership to address some of these issues and get clear outcomes of what we are trying to do.

“We are doing a bigger piece of work around reimagining the town centre,” she added.

“And I think that ties in with your previous discussion at overview and scrutiny board around footfall.

“Actually what’s the purpose of the town centre now? How do we look to create new spaces and what are they for?

“We also know that a big drive and concern of residents and businesses is the number of people they see who are begging on the streets.”

Labour South councillor David Agbley asked whether there is any chance of getting the local councillors involved as they speak to residents and shopkeepers.

Ms Church replied: “We are only at the early stages of the town centre masterplan which is why we haven’t talked to you about that, but we will do.”